Left trade unions called for a nationwide bandh on Wednesday. The strike in Left-ruled states paralysed normal life. But does such 'nuisance' hold any public interest. Such disruptive political conduct must be discouraged at all costs

LEFT TRADE unions had called for a 24-hour national strike in India, which commenced last midnight (August 19). Though striking is the right of workers, we have to re-examine its context and necessity.

The parties or the organisations which call for bandh (Supreme Court has banned enforcing bandh, however, it exists in the form of hartals) ask public to stop their work for the day and keep even house shutters closed. Ours is a democratic country and striking, election, freedom for expression must be therefore, granted. But, when we review recent strikes, whether they are at national, state, or regional level, a doubt arises in the minds of common man why should we follow the calls of others who don’t help us for the day’s bread? Why should we be curtailed for hours by a prortest which brings nothing for us?

Political parties may argue that the support from the public side is reflected as the roads are deserted. Truly, it is not support, but, fear that keeps the public away from normal life on striking days. All of us know the nuisance of the party cadre if we violate their ‘orders’.


It is good to see that the main cities of India are not participating in today’s strike, except trains and flight services are affected a bit in metropolises. As expected, Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura are observing the protest.


Political parties should use this weapon thoughtfully. And, role of media too is crucial here. We see strike calls by unheard of organisations become a success due to the over exposure lent by media.


There was an interesting report in a Malayalam newspaper. When a reporter asked the trade union workers about the demands that they were putting forward through this strike, half of them really didn’t know. Some said that it was against the price rise. Some even didn’t know whether it was declared by the Left or by the Congress.